NDLEA Intensifies Anti-Drug War As It Collaborates With Other Security Agencies

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June 26, 2023

The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in Kebbi state, SULEIMAN Usman has called for more effective collaboration among the Nigeria security agencies to combat the menace of drug peddling and abuse that is gradually becoming a major security concern especially in the northwest geopolitical region.

Speaking shortly after receiving a large caches of drugs intercepted by men of the Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs at the command headquarters in Birnin Kebbi,

Commandant SULEIMAN Usman said the porous nature of the nation’s land borders is making the fight against drug peddling and other criminal activities difficult.

Controller of Customs Kebbi Area Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo said his men intercepted over one hundred and seven pallets of compressed skunk cannabis sativa, over three hundred and fifty nine sacks of Diazepam, seventy packs of tramadol among others drugs and other contraband

NGO Seeks Support For Preventive Measure Against Illicit Drugs

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on the public to support preventive measures aimed at stemming illicit drug abuse in Nigeria.

Ms May Ikokwu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SOHI said this in an interview session with the Newsmen on Monday in Abuja “on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit drugs held by the UN Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC)”. The theme of the event is “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.” December 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The UN is committed to help create an international society free of drug abuse.

Ikokwu said that the importance of identifying and closing the supply chain of illicit drugs was to drastically tackle the abuse and use. She however called on parents and guardians to always monitor their wards and the company they keep, especially the adolescents in order to deny them access to illicit drugs. She explained further that the figure was not only alarming but a dangerous pointer to potential victims of mental and medical ill health.

The Culture Advocate also reiterated the need to improve on preventive measures, saying that drug abuse had adverse effects on the youths. She described the youths as national heritage who must be preserved and saved from any form of destruction or stigma.

“According to the UNODC, nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide,” she added. Ikokwu however enjoined relevant stakeholders to collectively save the future of the country by aggressively preventing drug abuse among Nigerians.

Brain Drain: Stakeholders Task FG To Take Drastic Measures

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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A former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and the President, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, have called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to halt the issue of brain drain in the health sector. They spoke at a two-day national conference held in Abuja, which was attended by pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, dietitians and medical laboratory scientists.

Dr. Mimiko said the reason many Nigerian doctors and other health professionals are running to other countries was that the country had not given its health sector the needed attention.

The doctor-turned-politician also urged President Bola Tinubu, to channel his planned palliatives and part of the money saved from subsidy payments to the health sector if it hopes to curb the brain drain syndrome. Meanwhile, Dr. Ogbonna in an interview session with newsmen, also described the trend as worrisome.

Dr. Ogbonna added that it was disturbing that some of the health workers leaving are those that have garnered experience.

He however called on the government to look into the areas of welfare and remuneration.

Medical Expert Raise Alarm Over High Rate Of Infertility In Men

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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Adeniyi Adewunmi, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Lagos State University has raised alarm over the growing rate of infertility in men, he stated this at 5th edition of Parah Fertility Conference organised for Medical professionals in Lagos, with the theme: “Navigating through Infertility in the 21st Century”.

Prof. Adewunmi, who was the lead speaker at the conference and also a consultant at the Institute of Fertility Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), expressed worry over the increased cases of infertility in men, saying the apprehension emanates from his professional day-to-day experience and statistic review.

According to him, male infertility indicates a problem with a man’s reproductive system, which makes him unable to impregnate a female.He said it was a misconception for people to always believe that the issue of infertility could only affect or be caused by a female.He added “Research findings show that more men are suffering from infertility than ever. And some of its causes were as a result of smoking, alcohol intake, drugs, obesity, past or present testicular infections, exposure to environmental toxins, exposure of the testicles to excessive heat, hormonal disorders, testicular trauma and ejaculatory/erectile disorders, among others”.

Another fertility expert, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, also corroborated Professor Adewunmi’s position on the growing rate of infertility in men.

While the CMD of Lifeline Fertility Clinic, Dr. Kemi Ailoje, charged intending couples to live life devoid of stress and anxiety in the course of their waiting to be blessed with a child, and advised them to be closer to God and have faith in Him, noting that there is nothing impossible for God to do.

Nasarawa State Moves End To Indiscriminate Waste Disposal

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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Nasarawa state government has vowed to put an end to indiscriminate dumping of refuse across the 13 local government of the state. To achieve this, the state government has created several disposal points for evacuation of refuse as well as clearing of drainage system across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state to avert possible outbreak of disease and flooding.

Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Malam Garba Mohammed disclosed this while briefing Journalists in Lafia after this month sanitation exercise.

The Permanent Secretary who however expressed dissatisfaction with the residence disposing refuge in drains thereby causing flooding, added that the ministry would embark on clearing the drains.

He said the ministry will for now undertake sensitization of house and shop owners on the need to clean up their environment adding that they would be held responsible for any blockage within their premises.

According to him, giving the way flood has ravaged and is still ravaging communities in many many states including some parts of Nasarawa State, the ministry would not allow anybody to block the water ways.

“When you block the water ways and prevent water from free flow, you are invited disaster, because any how water will fine its way to pass,” the Permanent Secretary added. We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.

OBNOXIOUS CBN POLICY SHOULD BE REJECTED – Abana

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Henry Williams

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June 26, 2023

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Nigeria’s financial regulatory body, The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated a policy which requires customers to submit their social media handles for identification. It also requested that banking institutions should also get customer’s e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and residential addresses as if banks do not have all these details through their KYCs (Know Your Customers). They justified their demand by tagging it “Central Bank of Nigeria Customer Due Diligence Regulation 2023” which they said is a “due diligence measure” to check money laundering and terrorism financing.

They further stated that these demands are measures to further their compliance with relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (MLPPA), 2022, Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (TPPA), 2022, Central Bank of Nigeria (Anti Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Financial Institutions) Regulations, 2022 (CBN AML, CFT and CPF Regulations) and international best practices amongst others.

The whole financial jargons packaged by the CBN to legitimize their demands may sound reasonable and logical, however, it is a facade which seeks to cover the intrusive intentions of the Central Bank and by extension the policy of the nascent government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nigerians have been compelled by the CBN to submit all manner of data. We should be asking the CBN how the data submitted so far has been utilized. Nigerian institutions generally have become experts in data acquisition but have failed woefully in the use of the data gathered so far in improving the lives of Nigerians.

More than a decade ago, the CBN began with the change of regular account numbers to what they called the NUBAN, then another policy came compelling Nigerians to get what they called the Bank Verification Number (BVN), then the Tax Identification Numbers (TIN). Need I mention other data which the CBN extracted from customers through the banks like email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses etc.

Interestingly and unfortunately, the CBN is not satisfied with all these data that are already in their possession, they are hungry for more! They want Nigerians to submit their social media handles! If I may ask, for what exactly? Does the government of the day intend to surreptitiously gag Nigerians from the use of social media to express themselves? Such surreptitious demands under any guise should be rejected by the civil society, human rights organizations and indeed all Nigerian. We cannot afford to continuously sleep over our rights under surreptitious demands that have been tagged “regulatory”.

The CBN in their new regulation, Section 6(a)(iv) to be precise states that citizens should be identified by their social media handles. This is not only an obnoxious provision but a gross infringement on the fundamental human right of Nigerians; our right to freedom of expression and privacy. Section 39 and section 37 of the 1999 constitution guarantees the right of every Nigerian citizen to freedom of expression and privacy. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights also guarantee the right to freedom of expression. Article 17 of the Covenant also guarantees the right to privacy.

My question then is, is the CBN Governor ignorant of these laws? I presume that think that they will force every policy down the throat of Nigerians without any form of resistance from Nigerians who use the banks.

Such violating and intrusive policies can only come into force in undemocratic and despotic states where the word of the dictator is law but in a democratic dispensation there should not be any accommodation for such infringements on the fundamental rights of Nigerians else it will be resisted. No organization or establishment should compel citizens to submit their social media handles as a requirement for financial services.

The acting CBN Governor should not commence his leadership of the apex institution on a controversial note by making policies that are anti-populist rather he should focus on reviving the comatose and depressed Nigerian economy which should be his litmus test at point of our economic quagmire.

Nnamdi Abana is a Political Scientist, he writes in from Abuja, Nigeria.

Cancer Awareness: Foundation Organise Essay Competition

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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The Atinuke Cancer Foundation has organised an Inter-school/Inter-state Essay Competition. The competition which is aimed at improving knowledge about cancer and access to healthcare, had Abdulsalam Bada, a student of Oriwu College, Ikorodu Lagos, emerged overall winner, while Success Oloyede of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as first runner-up, and Destiny Orako of Eva Adelaja Girls School, Bariga, Lagos State, as second runner-up. About eight schools participated in the competition and wrote on the topic, ‘Knowledge conquers cancer, let’s close the care gap’.

The overall winner received the sum of N500,000, while the two other winners got an Android phone, a video and a camera, respectively.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atinuke Cancer Foundation, Mrs. Tinu Lawal, a cancer survivor, said, “Knowledge, in this context, is moving from the dark days of fear and terror upon receiving a cancer diagnosis to a future of certainty. We started last year and we decided to bring the message to the youths because cancer is a scourge that respects no one.” Lawal also said that she was impressed by the performances of the students who participated in the essay competition.

The President, Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr. Adamu Umar, noted that prevention was better, safer, and cheaper than cure.

“The advocacy for early detection starts with knowledge, and advocacy has no linear direction and that is the basis upon which we want to catch them young. There is the need to create a legal backing so that there will be compulsory means of educating them on healthy lifestyles so that there will be a reduction in cancer disease in Nigeria”.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor of Ogun State, Dr Tomi Coker, advised the students to always eat healthy and natural meals.

NUC Executive Secretary Resigns

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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June 26, 2023

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The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission professor Abubakar Rasheed has voluntarily resigned from the NUC to continue lecturing at the Bayero University Kano where he was appointed from.

Professor Rasheed who stated this to newsmen on Monday in Abuja said he had spent seven years as the ES of NUC.

Men’s Health: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 26, 2023

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Nobody likes to visit the doctor, but men are far less likely to visit a doctor than women and that fact alone could be one of the main reason’s why men’s life expectancy is coming up short by six years, when compared with women’s life expectancy.

So, Eating salad, turning down a beer, talking about your feelings, and going to the doctor when you’re sick could all get you called unmanly. On average, men have more accidents, more illness and die younger than women. Men go to the doctor less and there’s a widespread perception that men don’t care about health.

Some common health problems related to men include but not limited to cardiovascular diseases (which includes stroke , blood pressure, heart attack), lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prostrate cancer, liver disease, erectile dysfunction, sexually transmitted infections, diabetes, unintentional injuries, depression among others.

June is international men’s health month which gives an opportunity to discuss many of the most common health issues that affect men and encourage them to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and working to prevent disease.

This year’s men’s health week is all about creating healthy habits and focusing on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that will benefit their health and wellbeing.

Here are few tips for men to stay healthy:

Get checked out. Protect your heart by getting your blood pressure checked yearly and cholesterol checked every 1-5 years, depending on your levels and age. Get tested for diabetes too, especially if you are overweight or have a family history.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can lead to heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, depression, sleep apnea and other issues. Also, limit your alcohol intake which can increase the risk for obesity and cause other health issues.

Exercise Regularly. Strive for 30 minutes of cardio activity five times a week. If you can’t do that much, do as much as possible because every little bit helps. In addition to helping you to maintain a healthy weight, exercise can relieve stress and improve your mood, self-esteem, heart health, sex life, sleep and it has tons of other benefits.

Get enough Sleep. Losing a few hours of sleep can have a major effect on your well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and mental health issues.

Get screened for cancer. Most men need their first colonoscopy at age 50 (sometimes earlier depending on individual risk factors)

To screen for colon cancer. If it’s normal, you are good for 10 years! Screening for prostate cancer usually starts around age 50, but you can discuss the appropriate time to start this screening with your doctor.

Current and former smokers should ask about a lung cancer screening. If you do smoke, quit! Kicking the habit can lower your risk of heart disease, asthma, lung cancer and many other health issues.

So there you have it, a list to encourage you to take care of your health so that you can also take care of your loved ones longer. Keep living healthy!!!

Sokoto Butcher Killed For Blasphemy, State Gov Says Respect Prophet

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faith Jegede

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June 26, 2023

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A butcher identified as Usman Buda has been killed in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

According to reports, the butcher allegedly made the comment during an argument with another trader at the Sokoto main Abattoir around 8 am on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses recount that Buda was attacked by his fellow butchers and those who attempted to rescue him sustained injuries and “are currently receiving treatment at the hospital”.

The deceased reportedly hailed from Tambuwal local government area but resided at Gidan Igwe in Sokoto North, where he sold cow entrails at the Sokoto Fish and Vegetables Market.

One of his neighbours identified as Malam Yusuf described his death as painful.

“Usman is my immediate neighbour. He is very religious; in fact, he belonged to Izala sect. We prayed and attended Tafsir together at primary board quarters. There is no way he could make such a statement against the Holy Prophet.”

Yusuf also said Buda was very popular in his business and was envied by many of his colleagues.

Another close neighbour to him at the market said, “I have not been myself since I heard about what happened. I know Usman liked arguments on religious issues but I didn’t hear him even for once using derogatory remarks against the Prophet’s companions,” he said

However, the specific statement made by Buda which was considered to be blasphemous was not stated in the report.

The state police command confirmed the mob killing and said it received a distress call at about 9:20 am that one Usman Buda of Gwandu local government area, a “butcher at Sokoto Abattoir allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and as a result, he was mobbed and attacked”.

“Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Area Commander Metro and DPO Kwanni led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders to the scene.

“On arrival, the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious where he was rescued and taken to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto (UDUTH) for treatment and was later confirmed dead,” a statement signed by the spokesperson for the police command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’I, said.

“Meanwhile, Investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” it added

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has called on the people of the state to remain calm and law-abiding at all times.

The governor made the plea in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Malam Abubakar Bawa, while cautioning the people against any act capable of degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad SAW especially in a State like Sokoto which is predominantly a Muslim-dominated community.

Aliyu said that Sokoto people have so much respect and regard for Prophet Muhammad SAW, hence the need for all the residents to respect, and protect his dignity and personality.

“I want to call on the people of Sokoto State to avoid taking laws into their hands, instead, they report any alleged crime or blasphemy to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.

“Our religion does not encourage taking laws into one’s hand, so let us try to be good followers of our religion,” he appealed.

He added the present administration will not take the issue of blasphemy lightly and will deal decisively with anyone found guilty of any act aimed at degrading the personality of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, in line with the provision of Islamic laws.

The Governor assured the people of the State of his administration’s commitment to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all law abiding citizens.

The Governor also warned would-be troublemakers to have a change of mind, adding that Sokoto is the wrong place for them.